There has been talk of a big screen adaptation of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed for a while now, and while fans were worried they would be getting another Doom or Resident Evil, A-List actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) has signed up for the title role!

Collider reports that Eric Singer has been hired by Ubisoft to write the screenplay for their planned big screen adaptation of Splinter Cell. This is the first solid bit of news we've heard about the film since it was revealed that Paramount and Warner Bros. were both battling it out for the movie rights to the popular video game spy franchise (based on the Tom Clancy novels). That's all we know right now, although this is a good indication that work will begin moving on the film at a much quicker pace. Singer is best known for penning The International; a thriller which was directed by Tom Tykwer and starred Clive Owen. Be sure to stay tuned for further updates!

UPDATE: Variety has now confirmed that The Dark Knight Rises' Tom Hardy has signed up to play 'Sam Fisher' in the movie. Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures, released the following statement: "Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills. His involvement in the 'Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell' movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike. Meanwhile, Eric Singer is one of the most talented writers of the moment, and ... we're confident he'll bring a fresh approach and create a thrilling story ... while still respecting all the codes and traditions of the franchise that are so important to fans." With Michael Fassbender in Assassin's Creed and Tom Hardy in Splinter Cell, Ubisoft are clearly taking their adaptations VERY seriously.

According to Deadline, CBS Films has signed Scott Derrickson to direct Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the screen adaptation of the brilliant Square Enix video game. Derrickson will co-write with his Sinister partner C. Robert Cargill (former AICN reporter 'Massawyrm'), with Roy Lee and Adrian Askarieh producing. “Deus Ex is a phenomenal cyberpunk game with soul and intelligence,” says Derrickson. “By combining amazing action and tension with big, philosophical ideas, Deus Ex is smart, ballsy, and will make one hell of a movie. Cargill and I can’t wait to bring it to the big screen.”

For those unfamiliar with the game, it's set in the near future where advances in human augmentation have given rise to a technological renaissance. Our hero is ex-SWAT security specialist Adam Jensen, who takes advantage of mechanical augments to unravel a global conspiracy.

Are we looking at a new era for video game adaptations - one in which they don't all suck? There have been some big, surprising names attaching themselves to these emovies recently. Michael Fassbender is set to star in Assassin's Creed, and only yesterday we heard that Tom Hardy might be up for the lead in Splinter Cell. I fully expect to hear Daniel Day Lewis has taken the Adam Jensen role any day now.